I am forwarding this from an Olympic Hills neighbor.
I just had a door to door magazine salesperson come to my door trying to sell me a magazine subscription. He claimed to be with Heritage Marketing. He told me that he lived in the neighborhood. I asked him where and he pointed to the ______’s house and said his father told him that I was a good neighbor to ask for help with his attempt to raise funds to travel to London to recreate the first four episodes of Faulty Towers with John Cleese (???). I asked what his father’s name was and he said that he was not allowed to tell me. I pushed it a little further and he got irate with me and left. So, I put my shoes on and followed him up the street. I asked him some more questions to see if he would provide his identity. No go. I explained to him that he had just lied to me and that misrepresenting himself like that is not ok. He claimed to be a student at WSU, that he lived in Bellevue, and that he was a communications major. I did a quick search on line on Heritage Marketing and two scam stories popped up that are nearly identical to my experience with this guy. I called the police. They are looking for him right now.If you see this guy, call the police. He is about 20, 5-11, roughly 180 pounds, blue eyes, black hair, blue t shirt with a screenprinted graphic, beige cargo shorts, and white basketball shoes. He is carrying a black folder with transaction slips for Heritage Marketing as well as three laminated cards – two that show the magazines available, and one that has the names of local veterans that will supposedly vouch for him.Here is a link to the other story that is almost identical-
UPDATE:
I have heard from many Pinehurst neighbors who have also had visits by similar magazine salespeople in the past month. Please pass on this warning regarding magazine salespeople to your neighbors who do not read the blog or who are not on the neighborhood mailing list.
Note however, that there are still many legitimate and trustworthy individuals who go door to door. For example, I understand that there are canvassers in our neighborhood working on election campaigns and on healthcare reform issues. Please use judgement and common sense and ask for identification as it seems appropriate.
Same thing happened to me around 2:30pm today. Only there were two men, one fitting the description of the man above, the other was another man in his early 20's, bald, wearing beige shirt and shorts. I asked for ID and they left heading south on 8th ave ne towards ne 125th. It felt like they were hoping no one was home and didn't expect me to be there.
Just had the same thing happen to me out in Vacaville, CA. Same story and even though I had a feeling about him, he looked legit. Handed over a check and after he left went on-line and found this report as well as others across the country. Called the local PD and they found him, questioned him and, unfortunately, could only cite him and release him. Luckily I got my check and all copies of the receipt back.
I hate to say it, but I'll never allow myself to let this happen again. It's too bad for all the legit operations out there.
I just had the same thing happen to me yesterday. The man that came to my door had almost the same story as others that I have read. He lived in the neighborhood, raising money to go abroad, father making him pay for the trip, father took his car from him, had a list of APO addresses to send magazines to soldiers. He even told me that his father was going to have a BBQ to show his appreciation for all the help he was getting. These stories are very specific and believable. I even gave him a check. After researching this company and finding these similar stories, I cancelled my check. I am in Las Vegas, NV. Beware.
On 12/16/2009 Lauderdale by the Sea Florida, I had a young man about 20 5’11” 170 pounds blue eyes dirty blond hair and a junior from the University of Florida. state he was selling magazines to send to the troops over sea. He said that he is the grandson of a lady down the street who walks to small white poodles. He also stated that he was being sponsored by heitage marketing for every magazine he sold he would earn points and these points will be given to less fortunate students for a international trips that they will be going on. He stated his trip was already paid for that is why he was donating his points to others. He also stated his father and mother are making him wash cars of the people that purchase the magazine and he will be back tomorrow. He never showed up. The police said they really can not do anything. they did run several kids out of the neighborhood today.
Same story this evening in St. Petersburg, Florida. Young man, going to UF, supposedly lives 2 blocks away. He is trying to go to London for school with a group of kids to work with John Cleese to recreate the first four episodes of some show! He is selling subscriptions for magazines via Heritage Marketing to be received either at home or to send to soldiers overseas. He even had a list of soldier names and military addresses. He supposedly earns “points” toward his trip, which he is going to donate to less fortunate fellow students. His father promised to match whatever he received points/money he got from selling subscriptions. I fell for it at first — he was so unassuming and innocent looking. No pressure, easy going. He even asked if I thought he appeared nervous, because this was his first day. I got a little suspicious when I saw the prices — about double the price of my current magazine renewal rates. But I thought, what the hell, what’s one subscription. As soon as he left though, I googled Heritage Marketing and found this and other scam reviews. I walked up and down the street to see if I could find him again, without luck, so I waited in my driveway to see if I could catch him. Sure enough, he walked by again. I asked him to come look at my laptop, and I showed him this site and others revealing his scam and asked for my check back, which he quickly gave back to me. He seemed genuinely surprised by what I showed him and how similar his story was to this and the others I found, but it may have all been part of his act — his revelation: “that’s what they told me to say”. At least I got my money back without having to resort to stopping the check. Beware!
im 21 yrs old and i was looking in the paper and heritage marketing had an add for a job selling magazines…..they sent me a bus ticket from ohio to georgia….when i got there they explained to me about how i would have to lie (wich is theft by deception if you get over 500 from one house, and pan handling if you accept donations)and say that i was a studednt lived around the corner…..i explained that i wouldnt steal from people like that they left me…..no bus ticket….stranded…..i had to have my mother and father come get me from ohio……im sorry to the people that this shitty scam company has ripped off…..these kids(some are as old as 30 claiming to be 21)make up to 1500 bucks commission in 2 weeks….spending it on weed, fast food and bar hopping……..YOUR MONEY……… make sure u tell all your elderly friends and relatives in middle or upperclass neighborhoods about this scam……elderly people are often easy targets for scammers…..they want to believe that the kids are honest hard working students but really they are no better than a common thief
Same thing happened to me today, I live in Knoxville TN. Today I had this boy coming to my door, saying he was a major in communications, he was selling magazines for the troops, he said that he was the son of a lady that always walks her lab in the mornings, although he explained that he was born near Spokane and recently moved here. Also he was going to London to do an internship with the BBC. He said he was 20 years old, have blue eyes and black hair, and I have never seen him around. Unfortunately I’m very naive when it comes to help people, so I wrote a check for a little more than $100, he wanted almost $300 initially. After they left, I say “they” because he was with a girl, and she wasn’t the one doing all the talk. I felt bad, normally I feel good about helping someone, but there was just something that wasn’t quite right. I talked to my husband about it, and told him what just happened, he is a very good person and trusts everybody, unless they give him a reason not to, so he just told me to let it go if it is a scam; just trying to make me feel better. But I still felt so bad, because my husband works so hard and is not fair for this money not go for a good cause. So I called my bank and canceled my check, they charged me a fee of $36, but it’s ok, because I learned my lesson and will think twice before I give money to people knocking on my door!
Same thing happened to me in Malvern, PA. Nice kid played on elite soccer team which had qualified to go to London and play at Wembley Stadium. Said he was embarrassed but his dad was making him sell magazines to help pay for ticket to London. I told him I didn’t need any mags so he pulls out laminated card of service personnel who can receive the mag. Offered to wash car and windows. Mom lived up the street and walked a golden retriever (I never saw her). Then went on to talk about how this was worst day of his life…..girlfriend of 2 yrs broke up with him, had a new used car for 3 days when a motorcycle crashed into it……got stung by 30 bees and was allergic and went to hospital. And his brother was a sniper in the marines. The soccer team was named Heritage, too (should have been my first red flag). I gave him $51 and then checked on the soccer team – no such team in PA. Then like others searched on Heritage Marketing and found all similar stories. I stopped payment but I’m still kicking myself. These people are scum.
I’m going to turn off comments for this thread.